Monthly Archives: July 2013

Starting Up Right

Start Ups, Technology & Online, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 
Starting up your business can leave you feeling out of your element as you are moving up a huge learning curve. There are a few common pitfalls that you need to look out for.
 
1. Business structure
2. Planning
3. Testing for your Minimum Viable Product
4. Brand Properties
5. Loyalty / CRM
 
If you have these components in place, you are much more likely to be successful. Watch the video to understand each pitfall and the best practices around them.
 

 

Contact the Expert

 
Jazz
jazz@thestartupshop.ca
Small Business Start-up Professional
The Startup Shop Prez CL
 

Want more? Here are some additional small business resources:

 
Setup
www.Corporationcentre.ca
 
Testing
Lean Start-up: Eric Reis
The Four Hour work Week :Tim Ferris
 
CRM/NPS/Loyalty
The Ultimate Question: Fred Reichheld
www.Salesforce.com
www.Zoho.com
 

Let Your Creativity Out!

Established & Growing Businesses, Innovation & Creativity, Start Ups, , , , , , , ,

 
As a small business owner we need creativity to help us with product development, creating new ideas in our business, and to stay ahead of the competition.
 
Sometimes we think that other people are the creative ones and that this is not a strength that we have ourselves. But that is not true! Everyone has creativity inside of them, they just need to know the tools and how to recognize it in yourself.
 
This video outlines the three major steps of creativity:
 
1. Brainstorming. Some different tactics to approach brainstorming and tools that you should try out. A lot of times it is as simple as starting to write things down.
 
2. Prioritization. Once you have a bunch of ideas it is important to figure out which ones are the best ideas or what order you can actually approach them. Everyone has a limitation on time and money, so prioritization becomes important.
 
3. Implementation. Once you’ve decided on the ideas, action becomes necessary. Many times people want to wait and make things perfect, but often it is good to get your MVP (minimum viable product) out there to begin your testing.
 
At the end of the video, there are additional tips and tricks, as well as an example of where creativity has made a huge difference.
 

 
Contact The Expert
 
Sheri Andrunyk
womenforwomen@primus.ca

Benchmarking & Performance Management for Small Business

Established & Growing Businesses, Finance & Accounting, Management & Human Relations, Operations & Efficiency, Strategy, , , ,

 

What gets measured will get done.

 
Large businesses and small business alike use performance metrics with the intent to motivate their employees. However often these metrics are misguided and resulting in undesirable behaviour. They are not tied to the strategic performance of the organization.
 
In this video learn…
 
1. Why have metrics?
2. How to create your metrics that will actually help your business
3. Understand what a balanced scorecard is and what components make up a small business’ balanced scorecard
4. Learn how to monitor and implement the metrics in the most effective and efficient way possible
 
There are a lot of red flags when it comes to metrics, and if done improperly a metric can actually stunt your business’ growth rather than foster it.
 
Always remember that what gets measured will get done!
 

 

Performance management resources

 
Examples of Critical Success Factors and Metrics
 
Want the slides for this presentation? Performance Management

Steps To Create Your Super Slogan

Marketing & Branding, Start Ups, ,

Slogans are an extension of your brand and an easy way for customers to remember you. Of course, that’s if you do it right. If you do it incorrectly, this is an easy thing for your customers to forget.
 
This 16 minute video goes through the 5 point checklist to make sure that your slogan is going to get you the results that you want.
 
1. Does it match your business’ brand image?
2. Can your customer instantly understand how your business can benefit them?
3. Will you stick out from the crowd? Will your customer remember it?
4. Is your slogan unique for your business or is it transferable?
5. Is it simple enough or are you falling into some common pitfalls.
 
You’ll be surprised at how many huge companies have create their slogan incorrectly! And you’ll be happy to know that you will be able to save on marketing dollars by avoiding their mistakes.
 
Your slogan is part of your first impression and making sure that your customers remember you. But sometimes it is daunting to start putting your pen to paper and figuring out what you should start with.
 
The 5 point checklist is good to critique an existing slogan, but this video also highlights the 2 step process to getting started if you don’t have one today.
 
Step 1 – What is your product, service or benefit?
Step 2 – Tie it to your brand.
 
Watch the video for an example of how this process can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of your slogan.
 

 
Want the slides? Ad slogans PowerPoint